WoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gifWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comen-usCopyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/WoW Insider ShowEvery week, the WoW Insider Show brings you news and views from the World of Warcraft and the site that covers it all, WoW Insider. We introduce a panel of rotating guests, including bloggers from WoW Insider and other WoW blogs, and many popular personalities from around the WoW community. From the live listener chat and polls during the show, to the emails direct from listeners (reach us at theshow@wow.com), right on to the "meat" of the show -- in-depth discussion of the most popular news and posts on WoW Insider -- the WoW Insider Show is a terrific source of news and entertainment about what's going on with Blizzard and their World of Warcraft. Listen live every Saturday at 3:30 pm Eastern on our Ustream page (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wow-insider-show) or subscribe to the feed and let us know what you think by reviewing the show right here in iTunes.Breakfast Topic: Should Blizzard brake base XP while preserving boosts for experienced players?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/breakfast-topic-should-blizzard-brake-base-xp-while-preserving/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/breakfast-topic-should-blizzard-brake-base-xp-while-preserving/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/breakfast-topic-should-blizzard-brake-base-xp-while-preserving/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Should Blizzard brake base XP while preserving boosts for experienced players
We recently explored how you felt about alternate characters, whether you believe they should represent true alternatives to your first character or whether they should remain secondary to a more fully developed main. Either way, there's no stuffing rapid leveling back into the bag. WoW's current leveling design pushes players forward relentlessly, whether they're experienced gamers or not. The problem is that today's leveling pace already outstrips zone content, quest lines, gearing -- you name it. Should Blizzard apply the brakes to base XP while still permitting seasoned WoW players to choose to move more rapidly?

Consider this: What if the leveling experience weren't tuned to catapult players so quickly through and past leveling zones and dungeons? What if the pace were a little looser, giving new players more time to soak up the leveling game itself -- and then at the same time, the current XP boosts were spread across tools designed for experienced players who choose to hop, skip, and jump their way to 90?

The precedents are there -- just look at the heirloom armor system. Today, you can buy Grand Commendations to boost various reputations for your characters once you've played through them once. And remember when everyone was buying the Tome of Cold Weather Flight for their alts? The tools are already in place. From leveling XP to reputation gains to player convenience, the helping hand of a level-capped main character is key.

Do you think WoW's leveling experience should remain something to be played through quickly and efficiently, even for brand new players, or do you think there's merit to allowing that part of the game to move at a more deliberate pace? Would you support more mechanics that give experienced players a way to speed up leveling for their alts, preserving a slower pace for new players and players who enjoy slower leveling? If you like a strong emphasis on mechanics like heirlooms and commendations, should those tools be simple, affordable purchases for any level 90 player, or should they take some time, effort, or money to earn?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Should Blizzard brake base XP while preserving boosts for experienced players? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>altsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionlevelingmainmain-characterworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsxpLisa PoissoTue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Should alts remain secondary to a more developed main?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Should alts be secondary to a more developed main
Ready to move all those alts through Mists of Pandaria? The XP reduction for levels 85 to 90 in patch 5.3 isn't something I'm particularly excited about. Leveling goes more than quickly enough for my taste. It's the part of the game I'm enjoying most these days, so why would I want less of it?

At its most basic, pushing players through the levels is a matter of character focus. In Mists of Pandaria, WoW turned away from spreading its affections amongst the so-called stable of alts in favor of encouraging a single main character. That's a compelling approach for players like me who enjoy running down the side streets and back alleyways of gameplay in search of every last way to improve a character. Players who leveled up during Blizzard's later era of streamlined leveling, however, are used to cutting a direct line to the finish with an expectation that they'll be able to maintain multiple characters all the way through the endgame.

What do you think about swinging the focus back to a single main character? Do you think bringing alts up to the same level of development as a main character should be easy, making them true alternatives to your primary character? Or should alts remain easy to level but harder to fully round out at 90?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Should alts remain secondary to a more developed main? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>altsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionmainmain-characterworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoMon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Do you WoW-craft?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/breakfast-topic-do-you-wow-craft/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/breakfast-topic-do-you-wow-craft/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/breakfast-topic-do-you-wow-craft/#commentsFiled under: ,

Some people are just driven by the need to make things, whether it's art, writing, or any other kind of craft. World of Warcraft certainly seems to have a wealth of crafty types, who use their skills and expertise to do everything from making shoes to sewing adorable plushies to truly amazing cosplay. But while there are plenty of crafty players, not everyone has the talent or inclination. So tell us, do you World of Warcraft craft? If so, what's your craft of choice and why?

And, for those of us with neither crafting inclination or talent, well, we can always enjoy the work of others -- or just enjoy playing the game!

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Do you WoW-craft? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>craftingcraftsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionwarcraft-craftsworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-craftingwow-craftswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsElizabeth HarperSun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: How do you show your WoW?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-show-your-wow/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-show-your-wow/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-show-your-wow/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wandering around outside of Azeroth, in the so-called real world, you'll see a lot of World of Warcraft players. Some you'll spot with class t-shirts, others drive cars with alliance or horde window stickers (or even custom license plates), some may wear WoW-themed jewelry, and some even have WoW tattoos. But not everyone feels the need to show off their WoW fandom in an obvious way -- or even at all.

So what about you, readers? Do you have a WoW-themed t-shirt collection so you always have the right shirt for the occasion? Or is there some subtler way you like to show off your WoW love?

Gallery: WoW License plates

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: How do you show your WoW? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussiongoodiesswagt-shirttattootattoostshirtworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-goodieswow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-swagwow-t-shirtwow-tattoowow-tattooswow-topicswow-tshirtElizabeth HarperSat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer
I was smirking my way past the Gordon Ramsay-esque commentary on Twitter recently (go to the tweet to view it in all its unblurred, NSFW glory) when it struck me: Blizzard has created so many incentives to play a healer. Obviously, they've worked -- but are the healers enjoying it?

As a long-time healer, I find myself broken-hearted at the idea that players are going through the motions of healing simply because for the sake of faster random queue times or to fill a hole in a roster lineup. Healing by people who aren't passionate about healing? Healing by people who aren't glued to the action? Healing by people who might be watching "other things" on another screen, or eating pizza, or, or ...? Dear readers, we're talking about saving lives here. I weep. Seriously, I weep.

Still, there seem to be quite a lot of healers going about their business in today's game. If you're a healer, do you enjoy the role? Did you choose to be a healer of your own volition, or were you influenced by queue times, role benefits, or the needs of your raid or guild? If you were nudged into healing by outside forces, has it been worth it? Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionhealer-incentiveshealingrole-incentivesrolesworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoFri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: What makes you love your favorite battleground?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic What makes you love your favorite battleground
Alterac Valley sets my towers aflame. I fell in love with AV during classic WoW, in those sprawling, drawn-out matches that spun out over a day or longer. With a big map and plenty of time, you can savor the micro-encounters that make up a true battle -- that exquisitely frozen moment when you come face to face with an opponent behind a bunker, the off-objective chase that neither of you will give up, the "happy" grudges that leave you seeking out the same opponent the moment you respawn. I gulp down that stuff like water. Objective-driven play has its appeal, but it's the serendipitous moment of connection with the enemy that really turns my flag.

I have a friend who adores siege weaponry. For him, PvP queuing means a beeline for Wintergrasp, Strand of the Ancients, or Isle of Conquest. That's fine. While he's staying busy with catapults and cannon, I'll be slowly throttling some newly met nemesis in the somber shadows behind the keep.

What do you enjoy most about your favorite battleground? Is it something that's there by design, or is it some player dynamic or bit of byplay that fires you up?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: What makes you love your favorite battleground? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>battlegroundfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoThu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Your greatest WoW savehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/breakfast-topic-your-greatest-wow-save/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/breakfast-topic-your-greatest-wow-save/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/breakfast-topic-your-greatest-wow-save/#commentsFiled under: ,

I no longer remember the exact boss or who was raiding with me, but I do clearly remember having a conversation with a friend while I was healing Karazhan. At the time, I was grumbling that I didn't think we had the right group composition to do an encounter successfully -- but it was only after the group's other healer died that my friend agreed. Of course it was then that I decided this wasn't going be a wipe -- something I hadn't thought was possible until just then. (Certainly no one was more surprised than I was when I pulled it off.)

Whether raiding or not, we all have close calls in game -- that was only one of many I've had. But it was certainly memorable. So what about you, dear readers? Share your stories, your near-misses, your especially memorable almost-but-not-quite deaths.

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Your greatest WoW save originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionhealershealingkarazhanworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsElizabeth HarperWed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: How do you start a new character?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-start-a-new-character/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-start-a-new-character/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-start-a-new-character/#commentsFiled under: ,

When you've decided to create a new character in WoW, you'd think the actual creation part would be the easiest part of the process. After all the hard part ought to be leveling, advancing, and collecting gear. But for some players (myself included), character creation itself poses a challenge. If you've picked a class, there's still the question of which race to choose -- or if you've picked a race, the question of which class. And, while WoW's character creation mini-game is far from elaborate, there's still the matter of just what your character looks like. But most difficult of all tends to be picking the right name: WoW's been around long enough that many of the names you might usually use in a game have likely been taken.

So tell us, early morning readers: what's your character creation challenge? Does name selection cause you to stumble? Do you have to get your character's look just right? Or is character creation something you fly through, eager to get to the real game?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: How do you start a new character? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>character-creationcharacter-customizationfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-character-creationwow-character-customizationwow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsElizabeth HarperTue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's WoW?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's World of Warcraft
If you'd ever care to observe a WoW player heat up to a slow boil and finally explode in a spectacular, spittle-flecked rage over a minor technical issue, find someone whose favorite character model suffers clipping issues. Most long-term players have a character who can't wear or wield a much-loved item because it does something annoying -- clips through their back, chops off their hair, or disappears into the ground. This is a shoulder-shrugger of an issue to me, but for players who want their favorites to look their best, graphics clipping is utterly incensing.

After eight years, we've had ample time to grow weary of the ugliest graphical glitches that persist in the game. The old character models get cited for a variety of abuses. Night elf hands/mittens, anyone? Creepy. Sometimes, it's their expressions -- the terrifying rictus on a female night elf when she's "smiling." Just look at that screenshot up there. Definitely zombie material. And I know this isn't a superficial issue, because I swim. Ever looked up the skirt of a robe-wearing class while they're swimming? You can see their brains.

Blizzard's deft art direction and over-the-top, cartoon-ish fantasy aesthetic smooths over a multitude of aging and sins, but at some point, rough edges simply refuse to stay hidden. What do you find to be the most appalling graphical eyesore in today's WoW? Is it part of the older character models or landscapes and dungeon textures? Is there some aspect of WoW's graphics that shouts "old and tired" every time you see it?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's WoW? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>character-modelsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussiongraphicsworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoMon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: What type of character would your mother play in WoW?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/breakfast-topic-what-type-of-character-would-your-mother-play-i/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/breakfast-topic-what-type-of-character-would-your-mother-play-i/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/breakfast-topic-what-type-of-character-would-your-mother-play-i/#commentsFiled under:

Happy Mother's Day! I suspect that many WoW Insider readers are probably not mothers themselves (though surely some of you are), but I do know most of you are human, which means most of you have a mother or two. As such, I thought I'd use the day to ask this question: what would your mother play in WoW? Would she be a paladin? A warlock? Would she roll as a gnome or a tauren? What about her spec?

To answer the question myself, I really had to consider all the angles. Generally I think of my mother as being very kind and nurturing, but I've also seen her stand up to people three times her size and threaten the neighborhood bullies with a gaze of death when I got picked on as a kid. All in all, I figure she's probably a druid since she's fairly attuned to nature and can make anything grow. She'd probably go main spec kitty DPS (she has her moments of being super sneaky) and restoration as her secondary spec. As for what race she'd be ... I see her more as a night elf but I know she'd pick tauren since the cows are so cute.

My stepmother, on the other hand, would totally go dwarf elemental shaman. Granted, she'd probably also have four level 90 alts and a bunch of battleground achievements ... She's pretty hardcore when she gets into stuff. She's told me herself that she'd get addicted if she ever started.

So, what about your mothers?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: What type of character would your mother play in WoW? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Breakfast-Topicmothers-dayMothersDayDawn MooreSun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: How familiar are you with all the classes?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic How familiar are you with all the classes
Word on the street is that fewer players maintain level 90 alts these days, preferring to concentrate their efforts on a single main character and goof off in the 1-to-90 game rather than the endgame. Does that sound like you? And if it does, has it affected your grasp of gameplay mechanics for the classes other than your main?

I've never been a member of the "one of everything" crew. My typical realm loadout is a level-capped priest, a mid-range paladin and mage, sometimes a high-level rogue, and a banker -- and then more priests, paused at varying states of leveling up alongside now-inactive partners or guild groups. I've earned my understanding of other classes through hours painstakingly assembling raid strategies during early WoW (before the advent of the Dungeon Journal and boss videos) or, more recently, via hard knocks in PvP -- the best teacher, in my humble opinion. Nothing lends a dawning awareness of how another player's skill works better than an injection of quick, brutal death with it.

How familiar are you with the mechanics of today's WoW classes? Do you know all the contemporary systems like the back of your hand, or do certain specs or classes remain a mystery? Do you play the classes you seek to understand, or do you conduct your field research in other ways?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: How familiar are you with all the classes? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoSat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: What's your least favorite Mists 5-man or scenario?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic What's your least favorite Mists 5man or scenario
Just the other day, we talked about your favorite Mists 5-man instance or scenario. Turn about's fair play -- and come on, what's a little grousing and griping among friends?

You git what you git, and you don't have a fit. The 5-man instances we have in the game right now are all we're getting for the rest of the Mists expansion. But with new scenarios keeping things fresh, we'll have plenty of material to rescue us from instances or scenarios we've come to find an utter drag.

So let it all out: What's your least favorite Mists of Pandaria 5-man instance or scenario? Do the revisions of Scarlet Monastery or Scholomance rub you the wrong way? Is there something about a barrel full of monkeys that's less than a barrel full of monkeys to you?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: What's your least favorite Mists 5-man or scenario? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>favorite-instancefeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoFri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all timehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all time
You know the feeling: You're doing much more than merely firing on all cylinders. Your performance is absolutely, magnificently beastly. If you're a tank, nothing escapes the force of your presence. If you're healing, the party runs breathlessly without pause, wondering how you're pushing them on DPS. In the face of your DPS, no mob is safe once you're in line of sight. It's a feeling like no other, and it's the kind of gaming experience you remember for years to come.

Raiding can be (to fall back on that ever-popular vocabulary favorite) an epic adventure in World of Warcraft. But in smaller groups -- in 5-man instances and battlegrounds -- players are even more likely to get the chance to experience those peak moments of play when everything comes together to create a real hero tale. Tell us about your best-ever small instance run (5-man only; no raids) or battleground experience -- that time when you not only led the charts but saved the party, turned all the flags, reversed the tides of battle, or carried the day.

Or maybe even all of the above. You hero, you.

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all time originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionheroworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoThu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTWhat's your favorite Mists 5-man or scenario?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic What's your favorite Mists 5man or scenario
A friend and former WoW player asked me a question yesterday that left me hemming and hawing: What's my favorite instance in Mists of Pandaria and why? I found myself looping about in circles, citing oddities that tickle my fancy and new fight mechanics that entertain. When it became apparent that I wasn't coming up with a firm response, my friend scoffed that perhaps Mists hadn't presented me with a scenario worth appreciating. "Aha!" I cried. "Scenarios!" And I launched into a lengthy description of scenarios, happily diverting his attention from the fact that, well, I can't seem to choose a favorite Mists instance.

Can you? Is there a Mists 5-man that rises to the top of your list as a favorite? I'll toss scenarios in there too, just to broaden the field. What about your favorite 5-man or scenario makes it enjoyable for you? Is it the setting, the music, the story? Or confess your greed: Is it more that the loot inside is your favorite loot?

WoW InsiderWhat's your favorite Mists 5-man or scenario? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>favorite-instancefeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoWed, 08 May 2013 20:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: How do you deal with burnout?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-deal-with-burnout/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-deal-with-burnout/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/breakfast-topic-how-do-you-deal-with-burnout/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you've been playing World of Warcraft since launch, that's 8 years of your life you've spent in this crazy shared virtual world Blizzard has created. That's a long time to keep up with any hobby, much less a video game, and plenty of time to run into the dreaded burnout. Not that burnout is a bad thing: sometimes we all need a change of pace or a break to keep even our favorite things fun.

So how do you deal with WoW when it just stops being fun? Do you take a break with another game? Catch up with your favorite TV shows on Netflix? Venture out into the non-virtual world for non-virtual time with friends? Read a book? Knit a scarf? And, once you've had time to refresh and recharge, do you find your way back to Azeroth? Or wait for the next patch or expansion?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: How do you deal with burnout? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>burnoutfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-burnoutwow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsElizabeth HarperWed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: What do casual and hardcore mean?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/breakfast-topic-what-do-casual-and-hardcore-mean/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/breakfast-topic-what-do-casual-and-hardcore-mean/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/breakfast-topic-what-do-casual-and-hardcore-mean/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic What do casual and hardcore mean
These are terms that are bandied around a lot. Catering to the casuals, WoW has become a game for casuals, the rose-tinted spectacles of players who assert that the game used to be hardcore and has somehow slipped from its glory days into the mire of casual gaming.

But what do casual and hardcore mean? Certainly there are extremes. Nobody in their right mind could accuse Method or Blood Legion of being casual. These world first guilds are pretty much the epitome of the hardcore player. And yet, their Finnish cousins, Paragon, are accused of losing their hardcore crown by switching raid sizes. And at the other end of the spectrum, there are people who might log on once a week and run a heroic 5-man.

Of course, it's also worth remembering that your notion of what casual and hardcore are might not match those of your friends, your guild, your family. What is the cut-off point between hardcore-casual and casual-hardcore? How much WoW do you have to play to make the shift from a casual player into a hardcore one? Or is there some other measure, such as longevity, that qualifies some over others? Or maybe the whole thing is nonsense.

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: What do casual and hardcore mean? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsOlivia GraceTue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Did you meet your Children's Week goals?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/breakfast-topic-did-you-meet-your-childrens-week-goals/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/breakfast-topic-did-you-meet-your-childrens-week-goals/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/breakfast-topic-did-you-meet-your-childrens-week-goals/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Did you meet your Children's Week goals
Today is the last day of Children's Week. After today, thousands of non-pvpers will stay out of battlegrounds for a year and most of us will have another pet or 3 in our stable. Since the pets are tradeable, my guess is that this holiday is getting more attention due to pet battles. Is that true?

My goal was to finally get the meta as School of Hard Knocks is the only thing standing between me and a Violet Proto-drake. As of this writing, I still haven't, but I have time. And so do you, if you're reading this early enough. According to the in-game calendar, the event ends at 11 a.m. PDT. Though I'm not sure how that works. Does the Matron just vanish?

Regardless, what about you?

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WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Did you meet your Children's Week goals? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>childrens-weekfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsRobin TorresMon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Are you starved for WoW time?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Are you starved for WoW time
Spoken like a proper gamer, today's Breakfast Topic is less a question of "Are you starved for WoW time?" but rather "How much more WoW time do you need?" Let's face it, whether or not you take your recommended daily dose of dailies every day without fail, there's always more to do in Azeroth. WoW has arrived at that ripe, juicy stage that tempts even the most dedicated players with one more bite.

But despite the availability of a playstyle to suit almost every player's schedule, most players seem to end up wistfully pining for at least a little more play time. Do you? Do you feel that you have enough time to get into everything you'd like to try, enjoy, and accomplish in WoW? What would you do if you had more time to play? If you feel short on time, is that shortage a short-term situation, or is it simply the shape of your life right now?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Are you starved for WoW time? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 05 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussiontime-managementworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoSun, 05 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Vanity, thy name is your own guildhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Vanity, thy name is your own guild
I can't find a banker's alt guild on the latest realm I'm playing on. That frustrates me, because I like to keep my banker free from guild ties and other characters' relationships while still enjoying a guild tag and a little camaraderie. But on this realm, apparently, bankers simply create vanity guilds populated by no one but themselves -- probably a wise idea, since then they can benefit from all those lovely, lovely guild bank tabs.

Some players create their own vanity guilds because they like having a guild tag over their heads. These players aren't groupers or joiners. Unreliable schedules or other circumstances keeps their WoW on single-player mode -- they like seeing all the hustle and bustle, but they aren't able to or prefer not to dive into it. Guild tags help these players feel more a part of the player population, with a "hometown" label and sense of identity that a guild provides.

Do you have any characters in a vanity guild? What was behind its creation: more bank slots, a way to indulge in a fun pun or clever concept name, a place to feel you belong? If you've had your vanity guild for a long time, have you found that it has slowly grown, accumulating friends and family members?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Vanity, thy name is your own guild originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionvanity-guildworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoSat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 ESTBreakfast Topic: Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council?http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/#commentsFiled under:

Breakfast Topic Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council
Loot, no loot ... Loot, no loot ... All this hullabaloo over the pixels our pixels wear. Frankly, the most confusing aspect of the whole equation to me is the fact that so many players leave themselves at the mercy of Blizzard's loot systems in the first place. That's not to say I feel those systems are unfair or that they haven't seen significant improvement over time. I think they're fine.

What I don't understand is why more players don't band together in guilds with flexible systems that help members beat the element of chance. I'm a fervent believer in the loot council system, of playing with folks who have your back. Shouldn't there be a home team advantage when it comes to staring down the RNG? Is looping back through the LFR on your own that much easier or more effective than running with a team that wants to see its members equitably and strongly geared, with friends who enjoy helping you snag your most coveted pieces?

What do you think about loot councils as a way of fairly distributing drops? If your guild uses loot council, have you been satisfied with the overall results? If your guild relies on another method, what about that method do you think makes it a better choice?

WoW InsiderBreakfast Topic: Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionloot-councilworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsLisa PoissoFri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST